Chapters 1-20 Summary

Tendai, Kuda and Rita, the pampered children of General Matsika, begin another day of private instruction in their Harare, Zimbabwe mansion as their mother goes off to work in an aerial limousine. The general is head of security and their mother a chemistry professor at the university. Rita carps about how bored she is as their martial arts instructor arrives to lead them in different exercises. Most days they are taught over the holoscreen such subjects as biology, math, physics, African history and a foreign language. Tendai watches as his father, the martial arts instructor and chauffeur zoom off, then goes into the garden and releases a quarrelsome mynah bird from its cage with a wistful thought about freedom. The Mellower asks the general during a praise session for permission to allow Tendai, Rita and Kuda to go exploring for a day in the town...